Names

[quk@sievers.com (Phil Payne)]

In message <9703071628.AA16672@nj2.n-jcenter.com> Mike Arman writes:

> Some years ago I was teaching at a vocational school, and was reading the
> roll sheet for the first day of classes - came to - ready - "Basil Tewksbury
> Crapster" Gotta be a joke, I thought, called the name, voice responded
> "Here!" Moment of stunned silence - NOBODY could be named that! - then he
> said "Just call me shitty!"

The word, of course, derives from the name of Queen Victoria's plumber, one 
"Thomas Crapper":

  "By Royal Appointment to Her Majesty Queen Victoria, Sanitary Engineers"

In the late nineteenth century, "going to the Crapper" was the equivalent of 
today's "going to the restroom".  Original "Crappers" survive in Windsor 
Castle, Balmoral and a few London hotels (including, I believe, Brown's).

--
 Phil Payne
 phil@sievers.com
 Committee Member, UK Audi [ur-]quattro Owners Club